Module 11: Ethico-Moral Aspect of Nursing (Part 1)

Ethical Values

are essential for any healthcare provider; universal rules of conduct that provide a practical basis for identifying what kind of actions, intentions, and motives are valued.

Ethics

means character; are moral principles that govern how the person or a group will behave or conduct themselves.

Ethos

comes from greek word which means character/culture.

Ethics

branch of philosophy which determines or study or morality; systematic inquiry into principles of right, from good & evil as they relate to conduct.

Moral

personal/private interpretation from what is good and bad.

Bioethics

branch of ethics that studies moral values in the biomedical sciences.

Clinical Ethics

concerned with ethical problems “at the bedside” that arise within the context of caring for actual patients.

Nursing Ethics

study of ethical issues that arise in the daily practice of nursing & of the analysis used by nurses to make ethical judgment.

Autonomy

the right/freedom to decide (the patient has the right to refuse despite the explanation of the nurse).

Non-Maleficence

the duty not to harm/cause harm or inflict harm to others.

Beneficence

for the goodness and welfare of the clients.

Justice

equality/fairness in terms of resources/personnel.

Veracity

the act of truthfulness.

Fidelity

faithfulness/loyalty to clients.

1. Bioethics

2. Clinical Ethics

3. Nursing Ethics

types of ethics.

1. Autonomy

2. Non-maleficence

3. Beneficence

4. Justice

5. Veracity

6. Fidelity

ethical principles.

Golden Rule

treating others as you want to be treated.

The Principle of Totality

the whole is greater than its parts, all decisions must prioritize the good of the entire person.

Epikia

there is always an exemption to the rule, law can be broken to achieve a greater good.

Qui Facit per Alium Facit per se

one who acts through as agent is himself responsible/ “He who acts through another does the act himself; instrument to the crime.

No One is Obliged to Betray Himself

you cannot betray yourself, no one can force any person to answer a question if such will incriminate him.

The End does not Justify the Means

a positive outcome is not, well, a good thing if the methods used were dishonest or harmful.

Defects of Nature Maybe Corrected

cleft palate → surgery; withholding nutrition due to bowel obstruction → TPN.

1. If one is willing to cooperate in the act, no injustice is done to him

2. A little more or a little less does not change the substance of an act

3. No one is held to do the impossible

other moral principles.